Treasures of Angkor Wat and Vietnam

br />Book by August 31, 2010 and save $400 per couple on air-inclusive bookings on 1/7/11 & 2/4/11 departures.

Restrictions apply, based on availability.
Ask your agent for details today!Click here for terms and conditions.A moving experience. This journey through Southeast Asia showcases the history, culture, and artistic treasures of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Explore glorious cities as you overnight in Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Cruise of Tonle Sap – the Great Lake of Cambodia. Enjoy a cooking class in Hoi that includes a stop at the local market. Visit one of the most spectacular architectural achievements in the world, Angkor Wat. Discover early empires, enchanting landscapes and friendly people.

Day 1: Overnight Flight
Your tour begins with an overnight flight to Thailand. Skip a day ahead en route as you cross the International Dateline.

Day 2: Arrive Bangkok, Thailand
Arrive in one of the most fascinating cities in the world, Bangkok.

Day 3: Bangkok
A captivating city tour of Bangkok introduces you to this land’s religious beliefs. Visit two of Bangkok’s famous temples: the Golden Buddha and the Reclining Buddha. Also tour the Grand Palace, an ornate royal residence built in 1782. This evening, enjoy a welcome reception followed by a dinner cruise on a rice barge along the Chao Phraya River.

Day 4: Bangkok
Today visit Jim Thompson’s house, a magnificent Thai-styled home containing an extensive collection of art objects and antiques. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy on your own.

Day 5: Bangkok - Siem Reap, Cambodia
Take a morning flight* to Siem Reap, the gateway to the mystical temple complex of Angkor. Enjoy a tour of the remarkable fortified city of Angkor Thom and visit the mysterious temple of Bayon with its astonishing smiling faces and detailed bas-reliefs depicting scenes of everyday life in the 12th century.

Day 6: Angkor Wat
During a full day excursion, behold the exotic Ta Prohm, a haunting, jungle-bound temple. Following lunch, visit the intricately carved Angkor Wat. Constructed between the 9th and 13th centuries, it is revered as one of the world’s most impressive temple sites. You may opt to remain at Angkor Wat to witness the sunset over the temple; this beautiful site is enigmatic at twilight. After dinner at your hotel, relax or take a stroll down Siem Reap’s lively streets.

Day 7: Angkor Wat
Drive through Angkor to its rural outskirts and visit the Banteay Srei temple – a true jewel of Khmer art. Its red sandstone walls, decorated with elaborate carvings, are amazingly preserved. This afternoon set off for Preah Khan. Originally a Buddhist monastery, this temple was dedicated to Jayavarman VII’s father and showcases elaborate carvings to complement it stunning library. Now overgrown with trees and other vegetation like its sister Ta Prohm, Preah takes its name from the sacred sword protecting Cambodia.

Day 8: Angkor Wat - Hanoi, Vietnam
This morning, drive into the countryside. En route, visit a local village before setting sail on a cruise of Tonle Sap – the Great Lake of Cambodia. Discover how communities live and work on the lake; see floating schools, markets, police stations, and observe the daily lives of the population. Visit a typical house and enjoy an opportunity to interact with local families. Later, fly* to Hanoi, Vietnam's gracious capital city.

Day 9: Hanoi
Discover some of Hanoi's cultural treasures during visits to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. See Minh’s simple house and enjoy a short walk to the One Pillar Pagoda. The Temple of Literature features a presentation on Vietnamese history spanning a thousand years. Learn about the varied aspects of Vietnamese culture that have shaped this nation. The afternoon allows time for exploring the Old Quarter, revered as the jewel of Hanoi because of its idyllic setting around pristine Hoan Kiem Lake and the nearby labyrinthine streets dedicated to regional merchandise. Visit the Lake of Restored Sword and discover the legend that gives the lake its name. Tonight, enjoy a performance at the world-famous Water Puppet Theater.

Day 10: Hanoi - Halong Bay
This morning drive to Halong Bay. After a seafood lunch, enjoy an excursion by boat through Halong Bay. Cruise on a traditional wooden boat among the emerald waters and craggy limestone cliffs, stopping to explore one of the many caves in this area and observe the rhythms of daily life on the bay.

Day 11: Halong Bay - Hanoi - Danang - Hoi An
This morning return to Hanoi for a short flight* to Danang, then drive to the city of Hoi An, the 16th- and 17th-century trading port of Vietnam. Enjoy leisure time this afternoon in this preserved merchant town which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999.

Day 12: Hoi An
Begin your day with coffee at Hai Scout Café before proceeding to the Hoi An market to purchase the ingredients for your cooking class! Next, take a leisurely cruise up the Perfume River arriving at the cooking school. Learn the secrets of Vietnamese cooking as you help prepare five traditional dishes to enjoy for lunch. After lunch, take a cyclo (pedal cab) tour of Hoi An where the traditional lifestyle and Chinese architecture have remained unspoiled since the 17th century.

Day 13: Hoi An - Hue
Your journey takes you along the coast, traveling from Hoi An to the city of Hue. Travel along the Hai Van Pass, whose name means “pass of the ocean clouds,” as the peak of the mountain is above cloud level while its base is close to the sea. After arriving in Hue, visit the old Imperial City, including the Citadel, the “Forbidden Purple City” and the Thien Mu Pagoda.

Day 14: Hue - Ho Chi Minh City
Fly* to Ho Chi Minh City, a vibrant metropolis, and take a guided tour of the historic city landmarks including the Thien Hau temple and Cholon, the city’s Chinatown. Then, take a walking tour of the historic city center for a view of the Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, the Opera House and the ornate city hall. Visit the War Remnants Museum, featuring a diverse collection of weapons from two Indochina wars.

Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta
Travel this morning to My Tho, a bustling town in the rich agricultural region of the Mekong Delta, and visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda, a beautiful temple and a sanctuary for orphans and other needy children. Board a small boat to explore the Mekong River islands, stopping at a fruit orchard for fruit and tea and to listen to some local music. Prior to dinner, visit the home of the former US Ambassador, Henry Cabot Lodge, and enjoy a lecture on the economy and politics of both Vietnam and Saigon. This enlightening visit is followed by a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 16: Ho Chi Minh City - Tour Concludes
Returning home, you will cross the International Dateline and gain a day, arriving home the same day you departed from Vietnam.

Don't miss our current specials: FREE Door to Door Service Now Vacations Start at HOME! Don't worry about getting to the airport... because a vacation should be worry-free. With Collette Vacations, enjoy free round trip sedan service that takes you from your home to the airport when you purchase an air-inclusive Collette tour.* This personalized service - including gratuities - is available on new air-inclusive bookings to the South Pacific, Canada, and Europe; and on ALL Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures and Explorations by Collette tours. On departures May 2010 and beyond, Door to Door transfers are included with air-inclusive bookings to all destinations Great Savings • Added Comfort • More Convenience
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
10/8/2010 - 10/23/2010	$3,249
11/5/2010 - 11/20/2010	$3,349
11/6/2010 - 11/21/2010	$3,349
1/7/2011 - 1/22/2011	$3,349
1/14/2011 - 1/29/2011	$3,249
1/15/2011 - 1/30/2011	$3,249
2/4/2011 - 2/19/2011	$3,349
2/25/2011 - 3/12/2011	$3,349
3/11/2011 - 3/26/2011	$3,349
3/24/2011 - 4/8/2011	$3,349
5/12/2011 - 5/27/2011	$2,999
6/2/2011 - 6/17/2011	$2,999
9/15/2011 - 9/30/2011	$3,099
10/13/2011 - 10/28/2011	$3,099
11/3/2011 - 11/18/2011	$3,099
1/26/2012 - 2/10/2012	$3,099
2/16/2012 - 3/2/2012	$3,099
3/15/2012 - 3/30/2012	$3,099
4/12/2012 - 4/27/2012	$2,999
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

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